51. Spider (3)
After several skirmishes with the variant spider zombies, Jeong Dong-gun and his unit secured the Ironworks Industrial Complex intersection, clearing a path to the Pohang campus.
Zombies lurking inside nearby buildings or descending from the Pohang campus posed a problem, but securing the intersection alone—allowing the unit to move freely—was a major gain. Next time, they could reach it quickly without much interference.
Not aiming to bite off more than they could chew on the first try, Jeong Dong-gun eyed the road to the campus and asked Son Sang-hee beside him, "Is there a survivor camp over there?"
"Yes. It's one of Pohang's three major camps."
"I see. If luck's on our side, this intersection puts us right in touch with a large survivor camp."
The distance from Pohang campus to the university's main building was about 4 kilometers. A car could cover it in just four minutes, while walking took around 25. Close enough to call close, far enough to call far—Jeong Dong-gun stared down the road for a moment before deciding.
"Let's call scouting here for today. Clear the zombies around this intersection first."
"No plans to make contact with the survivor camp?"
"No, that's not it."
He had no intention of pushing further; they'd just sweep the zombies nearby. Son Sang-hee, questioning his judgment, pressed if they weren't contacting the Pohang campus camp. Of course, Jeong Dong-gun had considered reaching out for cooperation.
But.
"Today, we're just gathering data on the new variant zombies we encountered. We need countermeasures against those spider zombies first."
"They weren't a match for you or the troops."
"True. But to the Balhut Cult, every one of us soldiers is a precious asset. Better to fight as safely as possible than gamble away lives needlessly."
No need for the Balhut Cult to take unnecessary risks rushing into a survivor camp. This was still zombie territory, and his expeditionary force—every member an awakener—was operating externally. Losing even one was a huge loss, so the safest tactics were best.
To fully secure the Ironworks Industrial Complex intersection, they needed to clean the surroundings thoroughly. Recovering supplies from buildings was part of any expedition's duties anyway.
"Still, we should leave them a way to reach out to us."
Of course, he wasn't ignoring the camp entirely. If they initiated contact with the Balhut Cult, he'd welcome it.
"How do you plan to do that?"
"Like this."
"Isn't that... supplies?"
Jeong Dong-gun pulled out emergency rations from his combat pack—prepped for unforeseen contingencies. For one person, it held four days' worth of food, high-calorie chocolate bars, purified water, and a first-aid medical kit. Common before the apocalypse, these were now priceless treasures.
"We'll leave it in the street."
"Eh? Isn't that a waste? Like throwing gold on the ground."
"It is. Every bit's vital for survival."
The Balhut Cult used them freely internally, but outside, they were irreplaceable. Especially the medical kit—in this apocalypse with scarce medicine—it was worth dozens of tuna cans. Considering how Son Sang-hee and her group nearly wiped out without one, his act was tantamount to discarding gold.
Jeong Dong-gun agreed it hurt to waste, but.
"On the flip side, it'll lure them in. Something this valuable."
"Ah."
Precisely because it was so precious, it would draw them. Recover one bag, and you'd get three to four days' food for one, clean water, and a medical kit. Who wouldn't risk their life for that? Jeong Dong-gun, who'd survived as a civilian before Bahamut's descent, bet on plenty who would.
"You're not wrong. But won't survivors think we abandoned it fleeing zombies?"
"I'll leave contact info for the cult."
Not just dumping it blindly—he'd make sure they saw the Balhut Cult's details clearly. Watching him slip the info in like routine, Son Sang-hee figured this wasn't his first rodeo.
"Will the camp that finds it actually call?"
"No idea. But leaving valuable supplies with a plea to contact? It'll spark curiosity. How loaded do they have to be to abandon all this?"
"They might think you ditched it to escape and survive, and the contact's a fake to reclaim it."
Son Sang-hee probed right there—would survivors call? Jeong Dong-gun shrugged he didn't know, but it wasn't zero chance. Planting curiosity was enough. Sure, they might dismiss it as desperate flight.
"That's their call, not ours. If they buy that, end of story. But we can make them not dare doubt."
"Really?"
Judgment was theirs, but he had a way to quash suspicion. What plan ensured no doubts?
"Scatter heaps of supplies in the area. Call it the 'money shower' tactic."
"……"
Son Sang-hee went silent. Overwhelm with sheer volume, and they'd have to believe.
"Um... do you have that much?"
The Balhut Cult had suspiciously vast resources. Food, water, weapons—where did it all come from? Even now, massive shipments for the outpost construction on Geonpo Industrial Road begged the question: could Gyeongju alone sustain this?
"Mm. Lucky us—we found a treasure goblin. Very lucky."
Naturally, it all came from Jo Sun-do's vaults, not cult funds. The death-row warlord, sealed and imprisoned after appeal, would freak if he saw—but the cult had no intent to repay, only to compensate victims by flinging open his doors. Despite the spree, they could still fund expeditions! (They'd crushed North Gyeongju rule to seize it, but that's not the cult's tab—moving on.)
"Alright, prep yours too."
"Understood."
Jeong Dong-gun and his unit began placing the packs visibly around the streets. Twelve total—including his and Son Sang-hee's—with cult contacts attached. Now, wait for the call.
"Bahamut, requesting teleport."
Preparations done, Jeong Dong-gun and troops tapped their dog tags as Yuna instructed. Magic circles flared around them, white light flashed, and they vanished—reappearing at the outpost's marked circle.
"I-Is this possible?"
"Heard of it, but... amazing. Cuts travel time huge."
Son Sang-hee gaped at Jeong Dong-gun in disbelief. He was thrilled too—this magic could slash wasted movement if used right.
"It's because I'm at the outpost. Barrier down, or it won't work."
Yuna greeted them, confirming the teleport. She noted wistfully it wouldn't function without the outpost's barrier lifted.
"Shame. So we can go to Gyeongju?"
"Possible, but Bahamut's remote-controlling for now—no regular use."
"Too bad."
Disappointing, yet potential remained. Tech was nascent, but growth loomed.
"Once developed more, maybe. Bahamut's researching it."
"Good news."
Bahamut's personal drive sealed it—swift success likely. Jeong Dong-gun grinned, then.
"First, the scouting report."
He briefed: variant spider zombies, byproducts harvested, survivor camp potential. Yuna would relay to Bahamut for cult guidance.
"A camp nearby."
"Yes. Per Son Sang-hee, a major one on university campus."
"You fought earlier—they likely heard, scouted, maybe found our drops."
"Possible. Big camp wouldn't miss combat that close. Especially with Bahamut Bullets."
Yuna figured the fight drew notice; Jeong Dong-gun agreed—a well-off camp wouldn't overlook it. No quiet skirmish, and those fire-attuned bullets boomed like cannons with their firepower. Unmissable.
"If they hit us post-escape and we wiped... they might not hear."
"But large camp? Grab awakeners and bail—they'd save lives?"
"...You know extreme survival tactics awfully well."
The Balhut leader knew ruthless abandonment too keenly. Yuna smiled wryly at Son Sang-hee's jab.
"Someone clued me in. Worst-case only. Still, stragglers might snag our drops. Let's hope, Sang-hee."
"Yes!"
She urged hope—some scavenger might bite. Son Sang-hee nodded solemnly to the kind pontiff.
In days that followed, aggressive pushes via Geonpo Industrial Road. Main force liberated outskirts villages and farms, sweeping zombies for safety. Jeong Dong-gun's scouts delved deep into Pohang city, seeding supplies to contact internals.
And...
"Contact's here."
"Yes. Posted on the community as instructed."
The awaited message arrived on the Balhut Cult's site.